Pukke got their Varsity Cup campaign off to unconvincing yet winning start when they edged UCT 23-17 in Cape Town on Monday.

Pukke went to the break with a handy 15-5 lead which they extended to 23-5 soon after half-time. What followed was an amazing comeback by the Ikeys. Two quick tries were scored in the final quarter, and another may have been added had the referee not awarded the visitors a free kick on their own tryline.

The full implementation of the ELVs made this game a bit of a free for all, with breakdown turnovers the norm rather than the exception. The referee was also quick to blow his whistle when UCT rolled towards the tryline for what looked to be the decisive score. The blow was for taking the ball into the ruck and not producing it quick enough. Under the old laws they would have been awarded the scrum advantage, but under the new laws, the Pukke were handed possession.

UCT will ultimately regret missing four shots at goal, although it must be said the howling Cape Town wind was not conducive to accurate goal-kicking.